In February 2013, the Commission published its new proposal on a Financial Transaction Tax to be implemented by 11 Member States through enhanced cooperation.

The Law Society is participating in the St Petersburg International Legal Forum on 15-18 May. This forum represents an excellent opportunity to showcase the strength of legal services in England & Wales to an international audience.

On 29 November 2012, the Law Society of England and Wales held an event on the future direction of EU criminal justice, focussing on the forthcoming decision for the UK on whether or not to exercise its opt-out of EU criminal justice and policing measures concluded prior to the Lisbon Treaty. 

On 6 September the Court of Justice of the European Union handed down its ruling in Case C-422/11 P Prezes UKE.

On 19 and 20 June, the Law Society's president, John Wotton, travelled to Brussels in order to meet policymakers and liaise with Law Society members about a broad range of issues of interest to the England and Wales solicitors' profession, including ongoing legislative initiatives and sector developments.

Law Society vice president Lucy Scott-Moncrieff hosted a roundtable discussion in Brussels with EU commissioner for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship, vice president Viviane Reding on Friday 23 March.

The Law Society has offered its initial comments on the recent Commission proposal for a Data Protection Regulation.

Are you a British national? Do you have a law degree/qualification? Do you speak French, German or another European Union language? If you answered yes to all of these then why not consider a career in Brussels?

On 19 December the Commission published its proposal for the reform of the Professional Qualifications Directive. This long-awaited proposal comes in the wake of the Single Market Act - the Commission’s initiative setting out a strategy for growth in the EU through strengthening the Internal Market.

The January 2012 edition of our EU e-newsletter, the Brussels Agenda is now online.